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Available
light by Pat Morrissey
How many of us can show good examples of images taken in available
light? How many have stepped off the back of charters without
strobes? And how many will make the effort and adjust their
'mindset' to shooting in available light after Pat's 'enlightening'
input on an underestimated technique?
A
simple but effective format, Pat took us on a virtual dive
to illustrate what can be achieved.
Be
serious about shooting in available light. It's a question
of 'mental status', Pat told us. 'Prime' yourself and you'll
find it easier to shoot. Play around, but keep it simple.
'See the picture, get the composition and let the camera do
the rest'. He's right too as his images prove - perfect reflections
(Pat's favourite), silhouettes, sunbursts Try and capture
those sun rays. Play around with shutter speeds, use the existing
conditions and try and get that natural look. Shoot through
mediums - water to air con achieve some amazing abstracts.
At
6 and 8 metres Pat offered atmospheric images of a Sudan cave
and a diver on a wreck and offers, 'try and isolate the light
measure it and bracket'. And on the subject of large wrecks..
'You'll never light them with strobes, so why bother?' Pat
wants you to wander around his shots - 'it's a little trickier
at depth ... but you'll find the film picks out more detail
that you can actually see', as the black and white images
show. They give a 'documentary feel' and at 40 metres where
torch beams 'grow' to become sabres the whole scene has a
somewhat eerie feel. But what does it all boil down to? Easy:
Leave your strobes behind, achieve the 'mental status', play
around but keep it simple, push your film - it'll take the
abuse, be inspirational and look for abstracts, but more importantly
(if you eyesight is failing), buy an Ikelite light meter,
it has big numbers!
Focus
On - Your Best Pictures of 2001
An
impressive (and comprehensive) start to the 2002 Focus On
series, with the invitation to submit and display your best
2 images of 2001 enticing 34 entries. An admirable exhibition
of marine life and photographic technique - anemones and starfish,
rays and sharks, macro, wide angle, flash, natural light,
colour and mono. In 4th place with 26 points - Anthony Holley.
In 3rd place with 34 points - Anthony Holley with a nicely
captured handful of batfish taken on Agfa Scala, aperture
priority F8. 2nd place with 50 points went to Tony White,
with a pretty amazing Indonesian crinoid shrimp with almost
alien-like qualities shot on Velvia with 105mm, + 4 dioptre
and ring flash. But with 53 points and taking Ist place -
Alex Mustard with a masterly specimen of split level photography,
a solitary ray and clear blue sky at Sting Ray City. Perfect!
Congratulations!
Saudi
Arabia, Gibraltar and the British Virgin Islands by Mike Ballentyne
If
you've yet to decide on this years dive destination, Mike
Ballentyne offers some first hand experience on a trilogy
of (overlooked?) aspirations that may just influence your
decision. Perhaps the most unlikely, Mike offered Saudi Arabia
to be 'very different', but also offer excellent diving. The
limited tidal range rewards astounding visibility and an abundance
of colourful marine life. The combined size of France, Spain
and Germany, Saudi presents diving, marine life and wrecks
enough to tempt us all. But as Mike explains, they are not
always accessible - the 'authorities' often ban diving and/or
photography and some of the best sites are in prohibited areas
- you may have to resort to 'smuggling' your camera to dive
sites. If success is with you the rewards are great but don't
expect large fish - spear fishing is popular and the results
evident. If you work in Saudi, try and get some diving in,
but the lack freedom to dive and photograph does little to
entice the majority.
Gibraltar
may be your preferred option, with shallow reefs and and an
underwater cave system to volunteer those different photographic
subject of stalagmites and stalactites, haloclines and
crystal visibility. Out to sea the conditions are not too
dissimilar to that of the UK with similar marine life and
similar photo opportunities (macro). But if you fancy rummaging
around the many anchor points you may be lucky enough to collect
a little piece of history - bottles, clay pipes and uniform
buttons from many a sailor over many a year. If that doesn't
appeal, just enjoy the local hospitality, the excellent cuisine
and the cheap booze!
If
you fancy something a little more exotic, the British Virgin
Islands a afford value for money and wholesome dive sites.
Expect 4 dives a day, a night dive, nitrox availability and
a little sympathetic treatment for the underwater photographer
(indeed one of the dive centres is run by a BSoUP member).
The reefs are all within a twenty minute boat ride and many
'surplus' WWII ships were scuttled here offering refuge for
the array of marine life and a myriad of underwater photo
opportunities. Take advantage of the resident barracuda and
the flamingo tongue cowries and get that wide?angle lens going.
The visibility, although variable offers good light penetration
at 35 metres
and the life at that depth is comparable to that in the shallows
with sponges and flatworms. The islands extend gorgeous views
and excellent diving. The hospitality is welcoming, the cuisine
more than acceptable and what's more, cheap booze! You could
do a lot worse!
Thank
you Mike!
Reproduced
from in focus 73 (February
2002) |
